Chicago Fire Acquire Midfielder Alvaro Fernandez from Seattle

CHICAGO, Ill. (July 27, 2012) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Friday that the club has acquired Alvaro Fernandez from Seattle Sounders FC in return for allocation money. Fernandez will occupy a Designated Player slot and is expected to join the team in San Jose prior to the Fire’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Saturday, July 28 at 9:30 p.m. CT (NBC 5.2/97.5 ESPN Deportes). Per team and MLS policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Fernandez becomes the second Designated Player added to the Fire’s roster in the past week, as Dutch striker Sherjill MacDonald was signed by the club Tuesday.

“Alvaro is an experienced player that has proven himself as an offensive weapon in MLS,” said Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas. “He is a versatile player and can occupy a number of positions in the midfield. This addition strengthens our squad as we enter the second half of the season.”

Fernandez joined Sounders FC in 2010 and tallied 13 goals in 55 MLS Regular Season matches.

Fernandez made his professional debut with Uruguayan side Montevideo Wanderers in 2006. He appeared in 43 games over three seasons, starting 40 games and adding three goals. In 2008 Fernandez joined Mexican side Puebla, where he started 12 matches before returning to Uruguay and signed for Nacional for the remainder of the 2008 season. In 2009, he started eight matches and scored three goals with the Montevideo-based squad.

While with Nacional, Fernandez was loaned to Chile’s Universidad in 2010 where he appeared in 11 games with nine starts, scoring one goal.

Fernandez joined Major League Soccer in July 2010 becoming the third Designated Player in Sounders history. In his three seasons with Sounders FC, Fernandez has appeared in 80 matches across all competitions, scoring 16 goals and adding 10 assists. He has helped the Rave Green win the 2010 and 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophies.

Fernandez, 26, has been capped for Uruguay 11 times, including four appearances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.